A4 motorway (Portugal)

The A4 "Auto-Estrada" is the Portuguese 4th Motorway which originally ran from Águas Santas to Amarante. Now has been extended, open January 2007 with its original opening spur in coastal town Matosinhos, crossing the new A28, old IC1, to join up with the old opening junction with the A3 motorway (Porto-Valença). This new spur is 9km in length, and completes the whole approximate 100km run to Amarante, where it narrows to become the IP4. The motorway leaves the metropolitan area of Porto, through the urban areas of Ermesinde, Valongo, Paredes, Penafiel, until arriving at the mountainous town of Amarante. It is also known as one of the most dangerous motorways in the country, particularly the descent from Campo to Valongo. Much improvements are being projected by the government in this respect.